Froome beat Nairo Quintana, who won the white jersey for the best Under-25 rider, by 1:12 after resisting the Colombian’s late charge in the Alps. PHOTO: AFP
PARIS: Chris Froome said he felt “incredible” after winning his second Tour de France title on Sunday in a competition that has seen him accused of cheating, spat upon and doused with urine.
The 30-year-old Briton crossed the line on Paris’s Champs Elysees arm-in-arm with his Sky teammates to clinch a second Grand Boucle crown following his 2013 success.
“This is such a great race, what can I say? I feel a lot of emotion,” said Froome after finishing the 21st leg of the competition. “Of course it was a very, very difficult Tour, both on the bike and off it. I’m so happy to be here in yellow. There were a few difficulties, a few extra stresses outside of the race but that’s cycling in 2015.”
Froome has faced accusations of cheating since his last victory at the Grand Boucle two years ago, and complained that a spectator had thrown urine on him while shouting “dope” during the 14th stage of this year’s race.
Germany’s Andre Greipel won the final stage of the competition, his fourth this year and 10th in total, ahead of Frenchman Bryan Coquard and Alexander Kristoff of Norway.
Colombian Nairo Quintana finished second overall with his Spanish Movistar teammate Alejandro Valverde taking third, his best finish on the Tour at the age of 35.
“I’m not disappointed at all, I’ve confirmed my ability and my status within the team,” said Quintana. “I’m only 25 so I have many more opportunities to try to win the Tour. Froome is a great rival, he suffered a lot for his victory and was very strong — he deserves it.”
Rain had rendered the cobbles at the finish on the Champs Elysees dangerous so organisers neutralised the race from the moment it reached Paris.
It meant the official timing was stopped just after riders passed the finishing line for the first time ahead of 10 laps of the famous Parisian avenue.
It allowed Froome and his teammates — wearing a black kit with the traditional blue stripe replaced by a yellow one in hommage to their leader’s feat — to finish in a straight line, arm-in-arm, over a minute after the stage winner.
Having already won the Tour in 2013, Froome became the first Briton to win the Grand Boucle for a second time.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 28th, 2015.
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